The Audition

by Les Emmans

"We had great fun with this production ... ... it was very well received ..."

"... it gave lots of people a chance to have a small part - something many have never done before - and I greatly enjoyed playing Marilyn."

Walkerville Musical Society

'The Audition' is a short, simple musical to perform either as a festival or fund-raiser piece, or as a 'try-out' for new Directors or performers.

Synopsis

At the start of a new production the company sing, that 'It's Great To Be Back In The Same Old Team' as the Audition Committee finalises the casting of 'Madcap Madge' - a fondly remembered, but hardly earth-shattering musical revival. With a couple of characters already cast, the members have arrived either to audition, or to be a bit nosey and see who get the other available parts.

AmDram groups (allegedly!) have a reputation for allowing intriigues and romances to develop, and this group is no different. The producer fancies Pru, but as the 'leading lady' who usually gets the best parts, she has no need of his advances. Marilyn, on the other hand, tries to use her 'feminine charms' on Norman (the Chairman) to try and get the part of Madge. The ladies of the chorus are used to her 'prima donna' ways, and after a bit of a gossip ...

"She says she's thirty-two and a bit, But if I remember right. When I was a girl of seven or eight, She played the lead in 'Kiss Me Kate'.

... they form a united front by singing 'All Girls Together'.

During the audition, the panel hear the singing and acting of Pru, Suki and Gilly (as do we). The producer pushes hard to get Pru the part, but with tempers fraying slightlly, the MD and the Treasurer jointly agree that Gilly is the better candidate. After some discussion the Chairman announces to the members that Gilly has indeed been successful, to (almost) universal approval.

It has elements of G&S as well as music redolent of a 1950's 'end-of-the pier' show. Great fun to perform and great fun for an audience to watch. G&S societies might consider this as a novel alternative to 'Trial By Jury'.

Duration

45 minutes approx

Characters

Principals (4m, 7f, 1m/f)

Richard King - the producer, has designs on Prudence Pringle (Baritone)

Information for Production Administrators

Here's a list of all the supporting material available and some other information you might need. Pricing for the production materials is supplied automatically with a Perusal Set. Royalty pricing can only be provided as a formal quotation.

Available now (see below) ...

Preview Script/Libretto

You can download straightaway a shortened copy of the script/libretto to read and get a relatively good picture of whether you would like to proceed to the next step. The Preview E-Script is made available to you as a pdf file sized for A4 paper and contains just over half of the script.libretto.

Perusal Set

These are available for customers in European Union countries only to borrow free of charge (but you have to pay the postage to return the set to us). The set contains ...

Combined Libretto and Piano Vocal Score

Cast Recording CD Sampler

Available after Perusal ...

Libretti/Vocal Scores

Available to purchase in this form ...

Rehearsal Master Set on a Data CD (Cast). This contains the combined script and piano vocal score for your cast and crew provided as A4 pdf files. No problem about possible loss of deposit, as they are yours to print out and mark up as required. The price includes a multiple copying licence allowing you to copy the Data CD itself (enabling you to give or sell copies to your cast for them to make up their own rehearsal books) or to make multiple prints of the pdf's on the Data CD for your production company to organise and provide to your cast or crew.

Please note that we do not sell printed copies of libretti, nor do we hire sets of printed rehearsal libretti or scores.

Available after Rights Obtained ...

Backing Tracks

Not Available

Orchestrations

Not Available

Royalty Type

Royalties for this title are 'variable fee, post paid', and will be calculated on a percentage of your box office income once your production has finished. See our pricing policy for details. We work on a quotation system for royalties, based on information you supply to us. Complete a printed application form or create account with us, and use the online version.

Video Licence

We have secured the rights to video productions of this title from the Author, and we manage them on his behalf. Once a 'Licence To Perform' has been granted, and then on payment of a fee, we will be able to issue a 'Licence To Record'. There are some strings attached to this, but these are far outweighed by the benefits.

PLEASE NOTE :
We operate a FREE Perusal Service, but due to the cost of postage/shipping, we regret that Perusal Sets are ONLY available to customers who reside in the United Kingdom (inc Channel Islands and Isle Of Man)...